Brighter Daytime Light Linked to Better Sleep, Study Suggests
By Health Correspondent
Spending more time in bright daylight could help people get to sleep earlier and enjoy better-quality rest, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of Manchester monitored 89 adults to find out how light affects sleep in everyday life rather than in a laboratory.
Volunteers wore light sensors and sleep trackers for more than 500 days in total and kept daily sleep diaries.
The study found that people who were exposed to brighter daylight tended to go to bed and wake up earlier.
Those whose light exposure stayed more consistent throughout the week also had healthier sleep patterns. Researchers also found that people with steadier light routines spent more time in deep sleep during the first part of the night.
Deep sleep is important for memory, recovery and overall health.
Lead researcher Altug Didikoglu, from the University of Manchester and the Izmir Institute of Technology, said the findings suggested that regular exposure to daylight could make a real difference to sleep.
He said: "By simply getting more consistent daylight exposure, people could meaningfully improve how they sleep at night."
Good News Post
The researchers say many people now spend much of the day indoors in lighting that is much dimmer than natural daylight before being exposed to bright artificial light in the evening.
They believe that pattern may be affecting the body's natural sleep cycle.
The study was published in npj Biological Timing and Sleep on 10 July. It was funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Izmir Institute of Technology Research University Support Fund.
